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A Whole-of-Society Approach to Organise for Offensive Cyberspace Operations: The Case of the Smart State Sweden
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences. Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), Switzerland.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7552-9465
Stockholm University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9085-4469
2023 (English)In: Proceedings of the 22nd European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security / [ed] Antonios Andreatos; Christos Douligeris, Reading: Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited, 2023, p. 592-601Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
Abstract [en]

Threat actors conduct offensive cyberspace operations for many purposes, such as espionage, to destroy information assets, and cybercrime. These operations are possible thanks to the innovation and development of information and communications technologies (ICT). Interconnected information systems have transformed societies positively. However, specific states exploit these systems' vulnerabilities to advance their strategic national interests. Therefore, it is important to know how a state can organise itself to defend against threat actors. The purpose of this research is to present how the smart state Sweden can through a whole-of-society approach organise for Offensive Cyberspace Operations. The intent is to conduct an active and independent foreign-, security- and defence policy, but also as a base for deterrence and defence. This article is based on a mixed methods approach. It uses the case study research strategy to discover new information. Fourteen men and women participated in individual semi-structured interviews. The respondents ranged in age from 40 to 65 with more than 20 years of experience in cyberspace operations, intelligence operations, military operations, special forces operations, and knowledge and understanding about information warfare and information operations. The analytic strategies include thematic analysis and quantitative methods to interpret the data. The results show many themes, but the article is especially focused on the themes of Operations, Capability, Policy & Governance, and Legal Frameworks. Finally, a conceptual map of a whole-of-society approach to organise for offensive cyberspace operations is presented inferred from the themes, codes, and content, and mapped to each responsible agency based on the interviews and codes. The answer to the research question is that Sweden should have a whole-of-society approach to organise for Offensive Cyberspace Operations to project power in and through cyberspace with the intent to conduct an active and independent foreign, security and defence policy and for deterrence, as described in Figure 2. 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Reading: Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited, 2023. p. 592-601
Series
European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security - Conference Proceedings, ISSN 2048-8602, E-ISSN 2048-8610 ; 22
Keywords [en]
deterrence, cyberspace capabilities, information systems, offensive cyberspace operations, smart state
National Category
Information Systems, Social aspects
Research subject
Computer and Systems Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-224802DOI: 10.34190/eccws.22.1.1188Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85167587161ISBN: 978-1-914587-70-2 (electronic)ISBN: 978-1-914587-69-6 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-224802DiVA, id: diva2:1822719
Conference
22nd European Conference on Cyber Warfare and Security (ECCWS 2023), Athens, Greece, 22-23 June, 2023
Available from: 2023-12-27 Created: 2023-12-27 Last updated: 2024-10-29Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Offensive Cyberspace Operations: Implications for Sweden
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Offensive Cyberspace Operations: Implications for Sweden
2024 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This PhD thesis describes how Sweden can organise its offensive cyberspace capabilities for strategic objectives, including cyber deterrence and defence, in response to escalating threats from nations like Russia, China, and Iran. The research develops a multi-level and multi-domain (MLMD) theoretical framework, integrating deterrence theory, intelligence the- ory, and offensive cyberspace operations. Adopting an interpretivist research philosophy, the research employs a case study research strategy, reviewing scientific and military literature and conducting semi-structured interviews with key respondents in Swedish policy and defence. The findings suggest the need for a comprehensive national deterrence strategy encompassing offensive cyberspace capabilities, the operational organisation of cyberspace units supported by policy and intelligence, and a tactical emphasis on identifying and exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities. This research contributes to the field by offering models and frameworks for planning and executing offensive cyberspace operations, providing insights and increasing the knowledge base for professionals and researchers. Additionally, it advances the field by applying the MLMD framework for evaluating the research papers and using the general method for theory building in applied disciplines to assess the utility of the proposed model for offensive cyberspace operations.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, 2024. p. 147
Series
Report Series / Department of Computer & Systems Sciences, ISSN 1101-8526 ; 24-008
Keywords
Offensive Cyberspace Operations, Deterrence Theory, Intelligence Theory, Offensive Cyberspace Operations Theory, Sweden, Multi-Level and Multi-Domain Framework
National Category
Information Systems Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalisation Studies) Peace and Conflict Studies Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
Research subject
Computer and Systems Sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:su:diva-231078 (URN)978-91-8014-839-9 (ISBN)978-91-8014-840-5 (ISBN)
Public defence
2024-09-06, L70, auditorium 70, NOD-huset, Borgarfjordsgatan 12, Kista, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2024-08-14 Created: 2024-06-17 Last updated: 2025-02-20Bibliographically approved

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Huskaj, GazmendAxelsson, Stefan

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